Maine Craft Portland

MAINE CRAFT PORTLAND WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THESE GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS: THANK YOU

FUNDERS
Windgate Foundation | Betterment Foundation | The City of Portland | Toodie & Gary Gulden | Caleb Johnson Studio | Shannon Richards | Sam Shaw | Susan Morris & Chip Newell | Judy Glickman Lauder | Mimi Dunn | Richard & Mary Howe | Lisa Pixley | Maine Charitable Mechanic Association | Amy Gulden & Randy Ramusack | Jim Brady | Carole & Alex Chanler | Loc Chanler & Sadie Bliss | Joan Sorensen | Kerry Grantham | Lynn Thompson | Tyler & Kat Gulden | Sue Bralove | Wendy & Mike Laidlaw | R.M. Davis, Inc. | Adrienne Paiewonsky | Sandra Henderson | Dick Spencer | Christian & Peg Becksvoort | Clair Sandford | David & Clemmer Montague | Mary Campbell | Robert Diamante | Sallie Findley | Lisa Evans & Jeffrey Smith | Joyce Wethington-Knight | Lissa Hunter | Lynn Kneedler | Camden National Bank | Ayumi Horie | Kim Reid | Kathleen Goddu | Barbara Hopkins | Deborah Weiss | Joyce Schwaller | Alison Thibault | Peter Mills | Valerie Paul | Francine Rudoff | Ebenezer Akakpo | Andy Verzosa | Frank Carr | Mary Hodgkin | Donna D’Aquino | Kevin Derrick | Nancy Shor | Kari Radasch & Ian Anderson | Karen Gola | Alan Bradstreet | Douglas E. Wilson | Gayle J. Fraas | Michele Michael | Jake Hanin | Lynn Duryea | Cathy Heinz | Lisa & Scott Cylinder | Susan Horowitz | Carole Ann Fer & Ellen Weiske | Tim McCreight | Anonymous | John McVeigh | Deborah Gould | Kim Round | Marie Pallutto | Kris Lape | Mark Bell | Kim Bentley

MAINE CHARITABLE MECHANIC ASSOCIATION

The Maine Charitable Mechanic Association was founded in 1815 as a social organization that promoted and supported the skilled trades—blacksmiths, coopers, carpenters, and more—and their practitioners. Its original members were master craftspeople and entrepreneurs and their apprentices. Today MCMA works to connect that history to the modern makers movement by providing social support and a place for knowledge sharing, particularly from the older generation to the younger generation.

Mechanics’ Hall currently supports makers, members and the public with educational and other programming, and access to its historical library, ballroom and classrooms.

HISTORICAL BUILDING MEETS MODERN MAKERS MOVEMENT

Our location in Mechanics’ Hall, in the vibrant Arts District—across the street from Maine College of Art, blocks from the Portland Museum of Art, and home to an art supply store—is only made more ideal by the fact that the Mechanic’s mission dovetails with ours. Mechanics’ Hall programs and events strengthen our efforts and income opportunities. Additionally, as a building tenant, MCA has access to the Mechanic’s Hall library, ballroom and classroom spaces.

Mechanics’ Hall was completed in 1859 and is on the National Historic Register. It served as Portland City Hall after the infamous city-wide fire of 1866. It also housed and served meals to Union troops during the Civil War. An entire wall of historical, floor-to-ceiling hardwood and glass cabinets will be a beautiful feature in the MCA retail space. Thankfully, the building’s historical preservation status has protected the cabinets through the various tenants and uses of the space.  The cabinets will become a dominant display and aesthetic component of the MCA space. They were built in the late 1800’s for a jewelry retailer and now offer an exciting design challenge to incorporate with contemporary craft displays.